“We are beyond the great barricade,” the captain announced as they stepped out upon the road.
“Yes,” his companion admitted. “Do you think the route we have come over is feasible for the army?”
“It can be made so with less trouble than is possible on the other road. But let us go into the swamp a short distance; so far as I can see the way is open.”
“But you can’t see very far,” Ira replied. “Two rods away the road twists entirely out of sight. To my mind, it is just the place where the Yankees would be likely to put in their obstructions thick and fast.”
“We can at least look at it.”
They were soon at the turn, and found, just beyond, was a huge pile of fallen trees. Over these they clambered and continued on to the next bend, where was a second collection of fallen timber.
“I wonder if it is like this throughout the entire swamp?” the officer growled as he and his comrade made their way with difficulty over the second pile of hewn trees to the clear road beyond.
“I believe so,” the young scout answered.
This surmise proved correct; over more than a score of such stacks of timber they were forced to crawl before arriving at the lower edge of the swamp. By this time the sun had set, and with a shrug of his shoulders the captain said:
“I’m too tired to go back over those barricades to-night. Isn’t there some place on this side where we can find shelter?”